In Covington, McConnell pitches GOP takeover of Senate

COVINGTON –Four days before the primary, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell on Friday traveled to Covington where he made his pitch to become the offensive coordinator to the Senate instead of the defensive coordinator.

Outside, tea party supporters of his Republican opponent Matt Bevin held signs across the street from McConnell's appearance, which was at the Madison banquet hall.

McConnell didn't mention Bevin or the impending primary to the crowd assembled at the Covington Business Council luncheon.

Instead, he pleaded for voters to turn the Senate from Democrat-controlled to Republican.

It's a plea he's made for at least the past year to go from minority leader of the Senate to majority leader.

"In our country, the solution is at the ballot box," McConnell said. "The only thing that's achievable in 2014 is to change the U.S. Senate. I've enjoyed being the defensive coordinator, but the offensive coordinator gets to call all the plays."

McConnell hit the talking points he usually hits, accusing the federal government of a "war on coal," criticizing the president for not compromising, lamenting the jobs lost to the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare.

McConnell laid the blame for the sluggish economy at the feet of government regulation. The government should first ask companies what regulation they would be comfortable with.

McConnell would rather the government ask companies first what regulations they would tolerate before implementing any regulation.

That's the type of government McConnell envisioned if the Republicans take over the Senate.

"There's a very adversarial relationship between the regulators and those being regulated," McConnell said. "The other way to approach it, if you think there's a problem that requires regulation, is to say, 'What might work here that you can live with without job destruction?'"

McConnell didn't take any questions from the media at the event.

Bevin's supporters outside had hoped to show a contrast to McConnell.

"Here are all those established politicians to feed at the trough of Sen. McConnell," said Garth Kuhnhein, a tea party activist from Fort Mitchell who stood outside the Madison on Friday holding Matt Bevin signs. "And here's Matt Bevin that offers a new generation of leadership."?